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Stanford's Christian McCaffrey wins Hornung Award for most versatile player

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

What could be an award-filled week started with a bang for Stanford's Christian McCaffrey when the running back won the Paul Hornung Award recognizing the nation's most versatile player Wednesday.

McCaffrey, also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, claimed the prize over USC's Adoree' Jackson, Michigan's Jabrill Peppers, and Ole Miss' Robert Nkemdiche.

The sophomore's 2015 season was one for the ages, as he shattered Barry Sanders' FBS record for all-purpose yards with a whopping 3,496. Sanders' son Barry Jr. is actually one of McCaffrey's Cardinal teammates.

The Hornung Award is tailor-made for a player with McCaffrey's skill set. Along with posting the second-highest rushing yards total in the country, the 19-year-old ranks second in kickoff return yards with 1,042 on the year.

The Stanford star likely cemented the award with an unbelievable performance in last weekend's Pac-12 title game win over USC. In addition to 207 yards on the ground, McCaffrey added 105 receiving and 149 returning to finish with a school-record 461 all-purpose yards on the day. He even threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Kevin Hogan, his second of the season.

McCaffrey now heads to New York for Saturday's Heisman ceremony, where he'll look to become the first running back to win the trophy since Alabama's Mark Ingram in 2009.

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